Water Absorbant Evaporative Cooling Hat

ABSTRACT

A hat with a brim extending outward from the base of a crown wherein a water adsorbent material is disposed on the inside lower portion of the crown, and extends outward onto the underside of the brim. A headband member on the outside lower portion of the base of the crown constricts the crown, causing it to apply the portion of the water adsorbent material disposed therein directly to the head of a user. The crown has venting holes incorporated along the head band. The water absorbent material comprises a closed cell foam material. The closed cell foam material is encased in a water adsorbent matting material to prevent direct contact between the closed cell foam material and the skin of a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material thatis subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objectionto the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office fileor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to hats, and more particularlyto hats made up of a brim, a head covering, water absorbent materials,and a head band.

Several hats are known to exist in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No.6,182,295 to Sciglia discloses a hat capable of reflecting radiantenergy from the exterior thereof and of releasing thermal energy fromthe interior thereof, the hat comprises a side band having a top paneland a double ply outer brim attached to the upper and lower peripheralportions thereof to shield the head, neck and face of the wearer fromthe elements and to allow heat to escape from the interior thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,230 to Fujino , et al. discloses a cap elementmainly composed of a three-layer fabric, the three-layer fabric memberincluding: a mesh-like front surface fabric; a waterproof back surfacefabric; and a non-woven fabric formed of water absorptive high molecularfibers, which is sealed between the front surface fabric and the backsurface fabric. At least one of the front surface fabric and the backsurface fabric may be subjected to ultraviolet ray shielding treatment.

It is common for hats to be worn around the crown of the head. Due toperspiration or other causes which make the brim and head covering wet,a water absorbent material is needed. Hats, once wet in these areas,don't easily dry out. Hats in the current art fail to present awide-brimmed had with an absorbent material disposed on the bottom ofthe crown and all around the lower circumference of the hat. A ribbon orhead band made of such absorbent materials is ineffective in brimmedhats, because the pressure of the brim of the hat against the head ofthe user keeps the absorbent materials under pressure, eliminating anyexisting water absorbing characteristics. Additionally, significantventilation provided in conjunction with a water absorbing material isneeded in the art.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved boonie hat with a head covering incorporating a venting meansfor covering the crown of the head of a user. Another object of theinvention is to provide a head covering that adjoins a brim memberextending substantially laterally outward from the edge of the base ofthe crown, which comprises a water adsorbent material. Another object ofthe invention is to provide a headband on the outside lower base portionof the head covering member, wherein the headband constricts the headcovering member, causing it to apply the portion of the water adsorbentmaterial disposed therein directly to the head of a user.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises an improved water absorbent evaporativecooling hat. The hat comprises a crown for covering the top of a user'shead and has vents incorporated into the sides of the crown. The ventscomprise holes in the crown above a headband. The headband circumscribesthe outside lower portion of the base of the crown and constricts thecrown, wherein a closed cell foam material is encased in a waterabsorbent matting material to prevent direct contact between the closedcell foam material and the skin of the user. This causes the hat toapply a portion of the water adsorbent material directly to the head ofa user.

The hat comprises a water adsorbent material disposed on the insidelower portion of the crown, with the ability and tendency to absorbliquids while encasing a closed cell foam material. The water adsorbentmaterial is disposed adjacent the headband and extends outward, onto theunderside of a brim. The brim extends substantially laterally outwardfrom the periphery of the base of the crown.

The apex of the hat is dome shaped particularly to form a cap on user'shead. The dome cap structure extends to form side walls about thecircumference of the hat, which continue to extend and form a chamberwith folds along the area above the head band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the water absorbent evaporative coolinghat.

FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of the water absorbent evaporativecooling hat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 an improved head apparel article is shown anddescribed. The article 10 comprises a head covering member 26 forcovering the crown of the head of a user wherein the head coveringmember 26 has venting means 22 incorporated therein. The venting means22 comprises holes disposed in the head covering member 26 above aheadband member 40. The headband member 40 is disposed on the outsidelower portion of the base 24 of the head covering member 26, wherein theheadband member 40 constricts the head covering member 26, causing it toapply the portion of the water adsorbent material 30 (shown in FIG. 2)disposed therein directly to the head of a user.

Referring to FIG. 2, the article 10 comprises a water adsorbent material30 disposed on the inside lower portion of the head covering member, andextending outward, onto the underside of a brim member 20. The brimmember 20 extends substantially laterally outward from the periphery ofthe base of the head covering member 26.

Still referring to FIG. 2, in one preferred embodiment of the article,the water adsorbent material 30 comprises a closed cell foam material,including neoprene. The closed cell foam material is encased in a wateradsorbent material 30 to prevent direct contact between the closed cellfoam material and the skin of a user since the head covering member 26fits loosely above the head of a user, except where it makes contactwith the headband member 40.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, various modifications and substitutions may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has beendescribed by way of illustration and not limitation.

1. An improved article of head apparel comprising; a. a head coveringmember for covering the crown of the head of a user; b. a brim memberextending substantially laterally outward from the periphery of the baseof the head covering member; c. a water adsorbent material disposed onthe inside lower portion of the head covering member, and extendingoutward, onto the underside of the brim member, wherein the wateradsorbent material comprises a closed cell material surrounded by awater absorbing layer; d. a headband member disposed on the outsidelower portion of the base of the head covering member, wherein theheadband constricts the head covering member, causing it to apply theportion of the water adsorbent material disposed therein directly to thehead of a user; and e. where a pad of water adsorbent material isdisposed on the apex of the interior of the head covering member.
 2. Thearticle of claim 1, wherein the head covering member has venting meansincorporated therein.
 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the ventingmeans comprises holes disposed in the head covering member above theheadband member.
 4. The article of claim 1, wherein the head coveringmember fits loosely above the head of a user, except where it makescontact with the headband member
 5. The article of claim 1, wherein theclosed cell foam material comprises neoprene.
 6. The article of claim 5,wherein the closed cell foam material is encased in a water adsorbentmatting material to prevent direct contact between the closed cell foammaterial and the skin of a user.